The season is just around the corner and teams are readying themselves.

Some will be hoping the English weather allows them to train outside – some have taken their squads abroad to warmer climates... I am happy to gloat that I’m part of the latter!

For the past two seasons, Barbados has been a destination of choice for us and it has gone very well.

Since we have been coming here we have finished a narrow second in the championship and then won it – something must be right!

The benefit of quality practise in sport, as in everything, is paramount. The game has evolved more than ever over the last ten years and the training has been a main reason for that.

Players are now spending more time improving their cricket skills, fitness and strength. Our preparation has been exceptional over the last two years and the results speak for themselves.

We got straight to work after arriving in Barbados with the first few days always hard practise sessions at Windward CC with the squad all together for the first time in the winter. It’s always good to see the players who have been abroad playing club cricket or with the England squads.

It’s a competitive situation with places up for grabs and I was looking forward to seeing the three England Lions members to see what they had learned in their winter away and how I compared and if I could find anything I could learn from them.

We played our first game against a Barbados VI (they had some strong players but it wasn’t the first-team side). They posted 164 in 40 overs with some excellent bowling from all the lads and Paul Best claiming three wickets.

Ian Westwood and Jim Troughton put on a 100 partnership and took the game away from Barbados, but it was left to me and Stef Piolet to knock off the remaining few runs. Considering it was our first competitive game, the lads put on a high level of performance and came through comfortably.

As champions we know there is a lot expected of us, and over the next six months teams will be looking to take us down – but I know the lads are looking forward to the challenge.